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The days of airport as shopping and entertainment destination are in full swing. Construction of the new 40,000 square foot passenger concourse at the Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB) will be finished next month. And this is no ordinary concourse. As part of a $140 million modernization project, the two-year renovation not only includes waiting and screening areas, but also two new terminals with 10,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space along with 4,200 square feet of outdoor patio seating containing fire pits, cabanas, and outdoor performance areas.

(Courtesy Studio One Eleven)

Long Beach design firm Studio One Eleven is behind the concessions’ resort-like ambiance. Using natural materials and nautical influences, such as reclaimed wood veneers, coconut shell counters, and Carrera marble, the space emphasizes comfort and connection to the outdoors. Operable glass doors create a seamless patio-to-indoor pavilion. The adjacent food court is set up like an open market where guests can wander through self-serve islands of fresh food or try bites from Long Beach’s top restaurants. And when finished dining, passengers can shop among a slew of local favorites, leaving them wondering if this is an airport at all.